Are Chrysler K cars reliable?
From the customer’s perspective the K cars were generally economical and reasonably priced but were saddled with tons of build problems (misfitting trim, orange peel paint, electrical issues, etc), truly pathetic performance, and poor engine and transmission reliability.
Did the K car save Chrysler?
Not only did they almost single handedly save Chrysler from certain death, they also provided the company with a vehicle that could be stretched, smoothed, poked, chopped and trimmed to create almost a dozed different models with prices from $7,235 to $22,475.
What was the name of the Chrysler K car?
The K-cars (Dodge Aries, Plymouth Reliant, Chrysler LeBaron, Dodge 400, and, in Mexico, Dodge Dart) sold over 2 million vehicles from 1981 to 1988, and around 100,000 in their final year, 1989.
What does the K in K car stand for?
Vehicles used on SEPTA’s subway–surface trolleys built by Kawasaki in 1981. HR 4138, a star in the constellation Carina with Bayer designation K Carinae, abbreviated K Car.
What was the first year of the Chrysler K car?
Many Volare and Aspen buyers found the K-cars to be an upgrade; and they were better suited to American roads and tastes than most imports of the day. The public snapped up hundreds of thousands of the “K-cars” in their first year, despite lingering doubts about Chrysler. From 1981 to 1988, they sold over 300,000 K-cars per year.
What was the problem with the Dodge K car?
And therein was the crux of the problem: The K-Car was a big step forward for Chrysler and Detroit, and a reasonably capable car. But by the time it arrived, Honda was readying the second generation of the killer Accord.
How tall is the Chrysler K car family tree?
As recently as five years ago, you could get a good sense of the width and height of the Chrysler K-Car family tree by just walking the rows of a big American self-service wrecking yard. You would see at least one early Aries or Reliant and probably a few late-K-family New Yorkers or Acclaim/Spirits.
What was the horsepower of the Chrysler K?
The K-derivatives offered a large variety of engines depending on year and model. Four-cylinder engines were initially equipped with carburetors; fuel injection was phased in beginning in 1986. Engine output ranged from 86 hp (64 kW) to 224 hp (167 kW).
